The Compers Inn (part 49)

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Happy 72nd Birthday to Cat Stevens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0TInLOJuUM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_ZhdlWePfU

sheils6

Hi all,
In Northumberland now, been a beautiful day and we went to Belsay Castle and then to Newbiggin by the sea. We are staying at a Premier Inn near Ashington on a site that was previously a coal mine.
It is now lovely and has a beautiful lake. We walked into Ashington earlier along the lake and went to a Wetherspoons for  their steak club night. Couldn’t understand why so many notices about Jack Charleton on our way in. Just found out he was from Ashington and his funeral cortège went through this morning.

Hope your DS results ok indie.

Duncan, the shower sounds scary. Always wary of electrics. Great your have your finances under control! 

Apple pies sound good FF. 

leanfun30

Evening. Another hot day here so washing dried quickly.
Sheils great to hear weather is good for you in Northumberland. Interesting that where you are staying was a coal mine. We put the TV on a lunch time and saw the procession for Jack Charlton going through Ashington.  It was a smaller funeral than might have been. Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip. 

We had Apple’s here too Firefly. So pleased to hear you enjoyed your baking.  In our jungle of a garden the brambles have grown through the forsythia.  So unbelievably I was able to pick some blackberries to go with the apples and we had a crumble.

Indie do hope your DS has some good results from hospital.

Duncan hope you had some good walks today.  Sound’s as though your Dad is clued up about finances for your care.

Take care all.

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Good Morning from a very wet Fife

Sounds like you have hit the right spot sheils

The house still smells like rhubarb jam this morning, frustrating to know that I will never get to taste it
No plans for today, we will no doubt get wet but at least Dad has plenty of towels available for my rub down when we get home
Take Care

indie

Morning everyone, rhubarb jam sounds very nice Duncan. Hope you don't get too wet later on your walks.
Glad your having a good time sheils,after all the breaks you had to cancel.
It's another hot day here and have all the windows open and the fans on but it's very muggy still. DS hospital appointment went well and he has a phone call from ENT tomorrow so should have results. They did tell him at the hospital they could see a pool where food/drink collects in throat but that was all they said so hopefully we will find out what that means as well.
I have no work till friday, so shall enjoy my free time.
Hope you all have a good day
Stay safe.

leanfun30

Evening.  Early I was posting and was interrupted so here goes again.
I’ve been out today!  Not just around the block.  I made it to the opticians with DH’s glasses. It was very hot here 23 degrees this morning and I decided to go on the train.  There were quite a lot of people out and about.  The optician said it would be a wait of about 15 minutes so I went off to Boots.  When I went back he opened the glasses case and asked were these the right glasses?  I thought how do I know. They look the right colour and shapes I said yes.    On the way back to the station there was one fruit and veg stall and although we had plenty at home I bought a few things.  It was a struggle walking from the train home.   Arrived home shoes off, hands washed sat in chair. Phone rings.  I heard husband say, oh yes, she’s just home.  Optician had given me the wrong glasses.  DH said I can’t ask my wife to go back. Then he was giving instructions how to find our house by car.   DH had tried on the ones I brought home and thought something was wrong with his eyesight as he wasn’t seeing properly.  The man arrived with the right glasses and DH can now see properly.  He doesn’t need glasses for reading.  

The opticians is in a large shopping area and there were a lot of people there.  They were trying to keep to the distancing and everyone was supposed to keep to the right.  I only went in two shops and was pleased to come out if there.

Well after all that I enjoyed a cup of coffee. 

Duncan’s Dad I’ve never tried rhubarb jam.  We did have rhubarb a few weeks ago and it was delicious.  Hope you had a lot of walks today and didn’t get too wet.

indie enjoy your days off in the sun.  Pleased your DS’s appointment went well.  Hope they find the problem.  

Sheils hope you have had a good day.   Take care.

leanfun30

Thanks Firefly.  It was strange going into big shops after four months.  I have only been into a local shop here twice in that time.  I realised before I went out that one of the two occasions our DD1 has been in the garden she took our sanitiser but I have to say there was lots everywhere.  Even at the small railway station.   We usually go to this shopping centre on the bus or most of the way by car then bus.   I thought train would be safer than the bus as less people.  There were more people than usual on the train but I felt safe.  Husband could not drive the car without glasses.  The very old ones he found are not good enough.    We both need our eyes testing but I don’t feel up for that.

fireFly you are good re rhubarb and ginger jam Good luck with it.

203846930

Hi everyone
Well done on your expedition to the optician leanfun and good on them for rectifying their mistake so promptly by delivering the correct specs.

Firefly, I would be careful of that recipe, it may be OK for pink rhubarb but green needs a bit more cooking than that.
Dad's (really his mum's) goes like this for 1.5 kilo of rhubarb:
Simmer the rhubarb in a large jam pan for about 20 minutes after bringing slowly to the boil then add a tablespoon of lemon juice and 250g of crystallised ginger (cut into smaller bits) and mix well then add the sugar, about 250g less than the weight of the rhubarb, less sugar if you like is sharp and more if you like it sweet, allow the sugar to melt slowly on a low heat then bring back to the boil and simmer for about 20 mins, don't bother trying to get it to fully set as it is not easy and the more you boil it the less flavour it will have,
If you have the jars warmed and pot while the jam is still hot, the lids will seal themselves and the jam will keep on the shelf for longer

We look like getting wet here again this morning but not something we worry about.
Have a day

indie

Morning, that was some day you had yesterday leanfun .I am glad they brought the right glasses back. I bet the opticion felt stupid,lol.
Good luck with the jam ff.  I hope the rain eases for your walks Duncan. Wish my dog liked water but won't go out in the rain without a little persuasion. Then it's a case of out for a quick wee then back in.
I am taking Charlie boy to vets this morning. He may have to have an op on his foot again. He has the swelling between his toes come up again, and after last month and the anti-biotics, they said if it comes back they may have to operate. I have starved him since 9 last night and removed his hidden stash of biscuits and treats he hides for midnight snacks,lol. So he isn't happy this morning as he kept looking for his food last night and he has been on the hunt already for his stash. He has dry food and we leave his bowl out as he eats when he wants. So he is sulking. I hope they can sort this problem out as he can't keep wearing the cone of shame but once the swelling comes up he won't leave it alone and nibbles at it so it needs sorting now.
I hope you all have a good day
Stay safe.

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I hate the cone of shame
I hope they get Charlie's foot sorted